EU Election Observation Mission donates N16m equipment to 13 CSOs

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has donated N16 million worth equipment and items used by the mission for Nigeria’s 2015 general elections to 13 civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country.

They are 60 laptops, 27 printers, 55 cellular phones and a considerable number of other equipment, including bed nets and some basic medical kits.

Speaking, the Head, Political Governance and Democracy, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Alan Munday, said the equipment was donated to Nigeria by the EU EOM in collaboration with Indra, a private company.

He said the equipment being donated were state-of-the-art, which the mission depended on for support for about three to four months in Nigeria.

Munday pointed out that being the usual practice, the European Commission and Indra agreed that Nigeria should benefit from the equipment at the end of the mission’s exercise in the country.

He said since the EOM was now drawing to an end, the EU delegation, following the request of Indra, discussed at length as to the disposal of the items.

Responding, the Coordinator of Education Must Continue Initiative, Mr Paul Gadzama, who spoke on behalf of the benefiting CSOs, said he was overwhelmed by the donation.

“I am really overwhelmed by this donation because it goes directly into the heart of what we are trying to do because of the serious attacks on education in this country. Since this initiative came into existence, we’ve been trying to ensure that the vulnerable children in the North East continue their education despite the attacks,” he said.

Gadzama commended the EU EOM for the donation, saying the equipment would be put to the best use for the benefit of the continued education of the North East children.

Quote of the Day

‘It is disingenuous to accuse everyone who calls for restructuring as trying to break up the county. History tells us that that kind of cheap blackmail will not work as long as the underlying reasons for the agitations persist.’

‘The biggest challenge seems to be that we seem to be allowing moderate voices on this issue to be drowned out by the reckless utterances of a few rabble rousers on all sides who may be tools in the hands of those who do not wish this country well. These are some of the people who arrogate to themselves the toga of spokespersons of our diverse groups.’

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